Method and system for creating and maintaining assessments

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a system for creating and maintaining assessments involving using an interface device, connected to an electronic and/or communications channel(s), to access an assessment control system in order to identify information related to information content and develop assessment items. User activity within an interface device occurs within an environment in which multiple components are present in a manner that produces a substantially continuous unified perceptual experience. Thus users can create and maintain assessment information while in the presence of the information content, which most likely represents, either directly or indirectly, the material or subject for which an assessment is being created. User activities within one component do not material affect or disturb information in other components unless the user intentionally chooses to alter other components. Maintenance to the information related to information content and to the assessment items also occur within the substantially unified perceptual experience.

[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/096,613 filed Mar. 13, 2002.

BACKGROUND

[0002] This invention generally relates to field of assessment, and moreparticularly, to a method and system that facilitate the creation andmaintenance of assessments.

[0003] There are many situations that require one party to use somemethod of assessment to gather information on another party. In thiscontext, assessments are means and methods used to evaluate, test,measure and/or other means used by one party to gain insight intoanother party's understanding, knowledge, comprehension, progress, skilldevelopment, memory and other criteria.

[0004] The most common example of this is when a teacher must assess theknowledge that has been absorbed by students. In addition to an academicenvironment, there are many other situations in which assessment may beused. Some examples may include: a company training its workers on howto use a new technology product; a market research firm askingrespondents to a survey to evaluate a new packaging design; or aninsurance company determining whether a potential policy holder has readand understands the policy for which they are seeking coverage. Theseare just a few of many ways in which information assessment may be used.

[0005] Until the advent of computer technology, most assessment waslimited to using either verbal or handwritten means to gather theinformation provided by the assessment. For example, in the classroomsetting the teacher might ask questions and seek verbal responses or theteacher may use a print format by administering tests or quizzes.However, with improvements in computer technology and, in particular,the advent of computer networks such as the Internet and corporateIntranets, assessments can now be carried out in electronic form. Forexample, students can take a course over the Internet without the needto be in the classroom and can take tests, quizzes and other assessmentsby using a computer to access courseware; or a consumer can be recruitedby an advertising agency to view and evaluate advertisements that aresent to their interactive television; or a trade show operator can sendquestionnaires regarding the effectiveness of the show, which areaccessible by exhibitors or show attendees via their wireless devices.

[0006] The process for creating assessments that are electronicallydelivered has generally followed a method that consists of the followingsteps. The person creating the assessment reviews material (e.g.,reading material, presentation material, web sites, etc.) for which anassessment is required. During or after the review the person creatingthe assessment determines what form (e.g., multiple choice questions,essay, attitude/opinion measurement, etc.) the assessment will take. Theperson creating the assessment then creates the assessment using anelectronic creation tool (e.g., educational courseware, HTML form, wordprocessing document, etc). Once created the person creating theassessment reviews and alters the assessment as needed. The assessmentis then made available electronically (e.g., transferring file,submitting through courseware, electronically mailing, etc.). Finallythe person being assessed accesses and completes the assessment.

[0007] An inherent drawback for users who create and maintainassessments for electronic delivery rests in the fact that currentmethods require the user to alternate between the source(s) ofinformation from which the assessment will be drawn and the electronictools used to develop the assessment. That is, the information contentfrom which the assessment will be drawn and the assessment developmenttools are not within a continuous unified perceptual experience.

[0008] A continuous unified perceptual experience exists when one ormore sensory inputs or stimuli are present, either concurrently or inrelevant sequential order, so that the user's overall sensory experienceor awareness registers as a single or series of associated andundisturbed events. For the purpose of this invention such an experiencetakes place within the experience obtained when interacting, eitherpassively or actively, with certain electronic or communicationsdevices. The main principle behind the continuous unified perceptualexperience is that the person who is registering the experience wheninteracting with the electronic and/or communications device isperceiving that the stimuli they are experiencing are linked or unifiedin a logical or rational manner such as being associated with a specificitem or application and/or emanating from a single source. A disruptionto the link that establishes the perceived connection of stimuli resultsin a disruption to the person's perceptual experience. A distinction isnot made based on length of time of exposure to the stimuli but oncommon characteristics that link the stimuli and that these links arerelevant within the context of the person's current expectations of theperceptual experience.

[0009] For the purpose of this invention, examples may include:information provided through a single computer application such as asingle web browser; programming provided through a single analog ordigital wireline broadcast source such as cable sources and programmingprovided through a single analog or digital wireless broadcast sourcesuch over-the-air television and radio, satellite, and other wirelessapplications. In each of these examples someone whose current perceptualexperience is focused on the information (i.e., stimuli) provided bythese sources recognizes that these are linked as long as the deliveryof the stimuli remains undisturbed within the user's expectations of theperceptual experience.

[0010] For example, when watching television the viewer may becomeabsorbed with programming offered by a broadcast channel, which containsmany sensory stimuli most notably text, video and audio, which theviewer realizes are integrated to produce the programming content. Forthe viewer the combination of different sensory stimuli offered by thebroadcaster produces a unified event. However, if the broadcast channelis changed, then a viewer's perceptual experience has been altered andthe viewer's awareness has to some degree shifted away from theprogramming offered by the previously viewed broadcast channel.

[0011] Likewise, when working with programs or applications through acomputer interface device, a user's experience is often interrupted bythe need to switch between programs or applications in order to completea task. The switching presents the user with new sensor stimuli eitherfully or partially in place of the perceptual experience they weresensing before the switching occurred. For example, a user may need toswitch from one program or application to another, which may create asituation whereby the program or application the user was working withis now overlaid, either fully or partially, with another program orapplication. These interruptions in one's perceptual experience maypresent problems to the user of the interface device as they makecertain adjustments to handle the shift in their awareness.

[0012] A drawback of existing methods for creating and maintainingassessments is that these require the user to work with informationcontent and the assessment creation tools that represent separatesensory experiences. The user is required, in nearly all situations, tomake physical and/or mental adjustments or manipulations that at onepoint in time brings the information content within their sensoryexperience and another adjustment or manipulation to bring theassessment creation tools into their sensory experience. The act ofbringing one of these items into the user's perceptual experiencerequires that the other item depart the user's perceptual experienceeither in part or in full.

[0013] For example, a teacher may instruct students to visit a number ofweb sites as Part of a class assignment. The teacher would like tocreate a means to assess the level of knowledge or experience (ormeasure some other attribute) gained by the student after visiting thesites. To do so the teacher uses online courseware, which contains anassessment module in which the teacher can create response items thatassess the students' knowledge/experience of the assigned web sites. Tocreate this assessment the teacher must first visit the web site. Oncethe site has been visited, the teacher can begin to develop the responseitems to be included in the assessment. To create response items relatedto the material found on the web sites, the teacher has the ability todraw from several sources. One source is to tap into his/her memory ofwhat he/she experienced when visiting the web sites. A second source isto look at a printed form of the web site, which the teacher may haveproduced when she/he visited the site. A third source is for the teacherto retain the web site for viewing on a computer screen (e.g., in abrowser).

[0014] Yet each of the sources from which the teacher can refer holdscertain disadvantages to the user when creating the assessment. Adisadvantage of relying on memory, is that the teacher does not have theactual information content in their view and must rely solely on her orhis memory of the material on the web site in order to create theresponse items. A failure to remember may require the teacher to go backto the material by revisiting the web site. This may result in extratime being spent in creating the assessment. Additionally, if the user'smemory is in error the user may enter the wrong information on theassessment that could lead to problems at some time during or after theassessment is to be completed by the students.

[0015] Disadvantages also exist when the teacher is referring to theprinted representation of the web site. For instance, the teacher facesthe inconvenience of moving his or her eyes away from the assessmentcreation tools in order to refer back to the printed document. Thisprocess has several drawbacks. First, it may potentially increase thetime it takes to develop the assessment since the user must move theireyes away from the electronic assessment development tool in order tofocus on the printed material. Second, this method may increase the riskof errors in terms of data entry within the electronic assessmentcreation tools especially if the user must remove their hands from theinterface device in order to handle or manipulate the printed material.Third, this method is clearly expensive in terms of paper and materialssince the teacher must printout the web site. Fourth, if the teacherproduced the printout some time in the past, it is a possibility thatthe contents of the actual web site may have changed between the time itwas printed out and the time the teacher referred to it in order todevelop the assessment. This may result in the assessment beingunsuitable or inaccurate compared to the information that now appears onthe web site.

[0016] Disadvantage also exists with the option of switching between theweb browser that contains the web site that serves as the informationcontent and computer application containing the assessment creationtools. First, the act of switching between the two items may mean thatone item is lost from view either fully or partially. This can increasethe time it takes to develop the assessment since the user may need tocontinually switch between the two items. Second, while it isconceivable that the user could manipulate both items so as to make themappear in a way so one item does not overlap or block the other, the actof doing so is time consuming, inconvenient and, for many users,technically challenging. Additionally, this does not qualify as aunified perceptual experience since the items reside in separateapplications rather than within a single application.

[0017] While a number of previous inventions have dealt with otherissues related to one or more aspects of assessments such as deliveryusing electronic methods (U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,148), group methods forcreating assessment (U.S. Pat. No. 6,259,890), scoring or grading (U.S.Pat. No. 6,267,601) or authoring within courseware (U.S. Pat. No.6,162,060), prior art is lacking in addressing the issues raised in thisinvention.

[0018] The object of the present invention then is to create a methodand system utilizing electronic and/or communications channels thatallows users to create and maintain assessments, while in the presenceof certain information content, in a way that provides a continuousunified perceptual experience.

[0019] Other objects and features of the invention and the manner inwhich the invention achieves its purpose will be appreciated from theforegoing and the following description and the accompanying drawings,which exemplify the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The invention provides a method and system that allows a user tocreate and maintain assessments. The assessments are primarily developedby one party for the purpose of assessing another party, such as ateacher preparing an assessment for a student. However, the presentinvention can be used in other situations where the purpose is for oneparty to gain insight into another party's understanding, knowledge,comprehension, progress, skill development, memory and other criteria.

[0021] In one preferred embodiment a user will gain access, through aninterface device, to an assessment control system that includes toolsfor creating and maintaining assessments. An aspect of this invention isthat a user must identify information related to information content,which most likely represents, either directly or indirectly, thematerial or subject for which an assessment is being created. Thisinformation includes identifying the electronic and/or communicationschannel(s) location(s) of the information content. Once informationcontent is identified the user can develop the assessment.

[0022] In this invention, the user develops assessments within aninterface device operated by the user. In the preferred embodiment theassessment control system manages delivery to the user's interfacedevice of multiple components. For identifying information content, thesystem manages the concurrent delivery of a component containing toolsto allow the user to identify information content and a componentcontaining the information content. For creating the actual assessmentthe system manages the concurrent delivery of a component containingtools to allow the user to develop the assessment and a componentcontaining the information content.

[0023] The manner in which the system manages the delivery of multiplecomponents to the user's interface device is in a form that produces acontinuous unified perceptual experience. A continuous unifiedperceptual experience exists when one or more sensory inputs or stimuliare present, either concurrently or in a sequential order, so that theuser's overall experience or awareness registers as a single or seriesof associated and undisturbed events.

[0024] An additional feature of this invention is to allow formaintenance of previously created assessments, which includes additions,deletions, and other adjustments. Maintenance can occur on the actualassessment and on information related to the information content.Another feature of this invention is that new assessments can be createdusing information used in previous assessments. An additional feature ofthis invention is that the user's interface device is connected to anelectronic and/or communications channel(s).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] Further aspects of the invention will be discerned with referenceto the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with thedrawings, in which:

[0026]FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram offering a basic overview of thisinvention;

[0027]FIG. 2 shows a diagram of an additional presentation of theinvention represented within technology components;

[0028]FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate the presence of multiple componentswithin a user's interface device;

[0029]FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C show conceptual representations of a singleweb browser containing multiple components;

[0030]FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram representing the initial stepsinvolved in the development of assessments including the identificationof information content;

[0031]FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram representing the steps involving theprocess of creating assessments once information content has beenidentified;

[0032]FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram representing the steps involving theprocess for modifying a stored assessment;

[0033]FIG. 8 shows a flow diagram representing the steps involving theprocess for modifying a stored assessment event; and

[0034]FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D show additional representations ofmultiple components within a web browser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown inthe drawings at least one embodiment, which is presently preferred; itbeing understood, however, that this invention is not limited to theprecise arrangements, methods and instrumentalities shown. Embodimentsof the invention may be entirely comprised of hardware, software and/ormay be a combination of software and hardware. Accordingly, individualblocks and combinations of blocks in the drawings support combinationsof means for performing the specified functions and/or combinations ofsteps for performing the specified functions. Each element shown in thedrawings, and combinations of elements in the drawings, may be embodiedin many different ways, as is well known to those of skill in the art.

[0036] General Overview

[0037] In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate likeelements, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a flow diagram offering a basicoverview of this invention. In the illustrated embodiment, a user 40will use an interface device (ID) 20 to access an assessment controlsystem (ACS) 10 in which the tools are provided for creating and/ormaintaining assessments.

[0038] For the purpose of this invention, the functions of the ACS 10include, but are not limited to:

[0039] 1. providing information content identification tools (ICIT) 26,which allow a user 40 to identify information content (IC) 12 throughinput of information including information related to the electronicand/or communications channel(s) location(s) of the IC 12;

[0040] 2. managing the delivery within the ID 20 of both the IC 12,identified by the user 40, and the ICIT 26 in a manner that produces acontinuous unified perceptual experience;

[0041] 3. creating a stored assessment event (SAE) 14 upon the user'sdecision to save the information contained within the ICIT 26;

[0042] 4. locating the IC 12 via its electronic and/or communicationschannel(s) location(s) stored within the SAE 14, and managing thedelivery of said IC 12 to the ID 20 of the user 40;

[0043] 5. providing assessment development tools (ADT) 15, which allow auser 40 to create and/or maintain assessments;

[0044] 6. managing the delivery within the ID 20 of both the IC 12,identified within the SAE 14, and the ADT 15 in a manner that produces acontinuous unified perceptual experience;

[0045] 7. creating a stored assessment (SA) 17 upon the user's decisionto save the information contained within the ADT 15;

[0046] 8. designating an association 25 between the SA 17 and the SAE 14upon the user's decision to save the SA 17;

[0047] 9. allowing the user 40 to edit, add, modify, delete or otherwiseadjust information related to the SAE 14 and to the SA 17;

[0048] 10. allowing the user 40 to access a SA 17, including accessingindividual assessment items, for purposes that may include but are notlimited to using these to create new assessments and sharing with otherusers; and

[0049] 11. associating all saved items to the user 40 including, but notlimited to, the SAE 14 and the SA 17.

[0050] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that ACS 10may include other functions providing the necessary mechanisms to allowthe user 40 to offer the assessment to those who are to be assessed.

[0051] Again referring to FIG. 1, the user 40 may access the ACS 10 viaan ID 20 that connects 24 to one or more electronic and/orcommunications channel(s) 30, such as, but not exclusively, computernetworks and sources such as Internet, Intranet, and other public andprivate networks; and/or digital and analog transmission networks andsources such as over-the-air broadcast sources, satellite sources andother wireless sources. Using the ID 20 a user 40, who is uniquelyidentified, will gain access to the ACS 10, which allows the user 40 tocreate and maintain assessments. The ACS 10, which connects 27 to one ormore electronic and/or communication channels 30 may exist as astand-alone item or may reside inside of other items such as softwareused to deliver educational material (e.g., courseware), researchtesting software or other software that incorporates a component forcreating and/or maintaining assessments.

[0052] The process of creating assessments begins with the ACS 10providing and managing delivery to the user's ID 20 of certaincomponents including a component containing the ICIT 26, which the user40 utilizes for the purpose of identifying IC 12, and a component, thatwill eventually contain the IC 12 identified by the user. Initially,however, the component containing the IC 12 presents a default IC 12,which will mostly likely change as the user 40 selects and identifies anew IC 12. The user 40 first identifies, through the ICIT 26,information related to the IC 12 including the electronic and/orcommunication channel(s) location(s) of the IC 12. Upon the user'sidentification of the IC 12 the ACS 10 manages the delivery to theuser's ID 20 of the IC 12. Consequently, both the ICIT 26 and the IC 12may exist concurrently within the user's ID 20.

[0053] Once the IC 12 has been identified, the ACS 10 allows the user 40to create and manage assessments within an ADT 15. To do this the ACS 10manages delivery to the user's ID 20 of certain components including acomponent containing the ADT 15, and a component containing IC 12 thatwas previously identified within the ICIT 26. Consequently, both the ADT15 and the IC 12 exist concurrently within the user's ID 20.

[0054] Thus, with the ADT 15 and the IC 12 existing concurrently withinthe user's ID 20, an aspect of this invention is to allow a user 40 tocreate and maintain assessments that are, either directly or indirectly,associated with an IC 12 and to allow for the creation or maintenance ofthe assessment to take place while both the ADT 15 and the IC 12 existswithin the user's ID 20.

[0055] Managing Delivery of Information Content

[0056] There are two options that may be available through the ACS 10for managing the delivery of the IC 12 to the ID 20. In option one, theIC 12 follows a path 11 to 13 in which the IC 12 is delivered directlythrough the ACS 10 which then manages delivery of the IC 12 through theACS's connection(s) 27 to an electronic and/or communications channel(s)30 and then through this channel(s) to the user's ID 20 via the ID 20'sconnection(s) 24 to the channel(s) 30. In option two, the IC 12 followsa path 11 to 16 in which the IC 12 does not go through the ACS 10 butgoes through the electronic and/or communications channel(s) 30 and thento the user's ID 20 via its connection(s) 24 to the channel 30. It isimportant to note that with option two, it is possible that the IC 12will be delivered through an electronic and/or communications channel(s)30 that differs from that to which the ACS 10 is delivering othercomponents.

[0057] The choice of delivery methods available to the AC S 10 dependson, but is not limited to: the electronic and/or communicationschannel(s) location(s) of the IC 12; electronic and/or communicationchannel(s) or system conditions; or, if more than one option isavailable, the ACS 10 may offer the user 40 a choice of deliverymethods.

[0058] Managing Delivery of ICIT and ADT

[0059] The delivery of the ICIT 26 may occur by following a path 23, inwhich the ICIT 26 is delivered directly through the ACS 10, which thenmanages delivery of the ICIT 26 through the ACS′ connections 27 to anelectronic and/or communications channel(s) 30 and then through thischannel(s) to the user's ID 20 via the ID 20's connections 24 to thechannel(s) 30.

[0060] The delivery of the ADT 15 may occur by following a path 21 inwhich the ADT 15 is delivered directly through the ACS 10 which thenmanages delivery of the ADT 15 through the ACS 10's connection(s) 27 toan electronic and/or communications channel(s) 30 and then through thischannel(s) to the user's ID 20 via the ID 20's connections 24 to thechannel(s) 30.

[0061] Saving Information Content and Assessments

[0062] Once information related to the IC 12, including its electronicand/or communications channel(s) 30 locations has been identified withinthe ICIT 26, the user 40 may choose to save the information. Upon theuser's decision to save, the ACS 10 saves the information as a SAE 14.Each SAE 14 is assigned a unique identifier by the ACS 10 and is storedby the ACS 10 in a storage area that is associated with the ACS 10.

[0063] Once an assessment has been created within the ADT 15, the user40 may choose to save the information. Upon the user's decision to save,the ACS 10 saves the information as an SA 17. Each SA 17 may be assigneda unique identifier by the ACS 10 and is stored by the ACS 10 in astorage area that is associated with the ACS 10.

[0064] Upon designation of a SA 17, the ACS 10 associates 25 the SA 17with the SAE 14 for the selected IC 12 that appears within the ID 20.Saving the assessment allows the user 40 to retrieve the SA 17, and ifneeded, also retrieve its associated IC 12 for later activity.

[0065] Access to SAE and SA

[0066] If the user 40 wishes to retrieve and/or modify informationrelated to the IC 12, the ACS 10 manages delivery of the SAE 14 to theuser's ID 20 following a path 18 through the ICIT 26 and then throughthe path 23 in which the ICIT 26 and the SAE 14 are delivered directlythrough the ACS 10 which then manages delivery of the ICIT 26 throughthe ACS 10's connections 27 to an electronic and/or communicationschannel(s) 30 and then to the user's ID 20 via the ID 20's connections24 to the channel(s) 30. In addition to delivering the ICIT 26containing the SAE 14, the ACS 10 manages delivery to the ID 20 of theIC 12, whose information, including its electronic and/or communicationschannel(s) 30 location, is identified within the SAE 14. Consequently,both the ICIT 26, containing the SAE 14, and the IC 12 existconcurrently within the user's ID 20.

[0067] If the user 40 wishes to retrieve and/or modify a SA 17, the ACS10 manages delivery of the SA 17 to the user's ID 20 by following a path22 through the ADT 15 and then through the path 21 in which the ADT 15and the SA 17 are delivered directly through the ACS 10. The ACS 10 thenmanages delivery of the ADT 15 through the ACS 1O's connection(s) 27 toan electronic and/or communications channel(s) 30 and then through thischannel to the user's ID 20 via the ID 20's connection(s) 24 to thechannel(s) 30. In addition to delivering the ADT 15 containing the SA17, the ACS 10 manages delivery to the ID 20 the IC 12, whoseinformation, including its electronic and/or communications channel(s)30 location, is identified within the SAE 14 that is associate 25 withthe SA 17. Consequently, both the ADT 15, containing the SA 17, and theIC 12 exist concurrently within the user's ID 20.

[0068] Use of Assessments

[0069] If the user 40 chooses and/or if the ACS 10 allows, the user 40may use the SA 17 for the purposes of delivering it to those who will beassessed (e.g., students, research subjects, employees, etc.). In thisway, if the user 40 chooses and/or if the ACS 10 allows, the assessmentcan be delivered concurrently with its associated IC 12 to those beingassessed. However, this invention does not limit its use to thiscircumstance. The user 40 could, if they choose and/or if the ACS 10allows, deliver to those being accessed only the SA 17 itself withoutthe IC 12 (e.g., test without the IC 12). In addition, other featuresmay allow the assessment to be transferred or shared with other users.

[0070] Overview using Technology Components

[0071]FIG. 2 offers an additional presentation of this inventionrepresented within technology components. The user 40, through an ID 20accesses, via an electronic and/or communications channel(s) 30, the ACS10 that resides within equipment containing an information technologyprocessor 32. The ACS 10 contains the required electronic tools forcreating and maintaining assessments including the ICIT 26 and the ADT15.

[0072] The process of creating assessments begins with the ACS 10providing and managing delivery to the user's ID 20 of certaincomponents including a component containing the ICIT 26, which the user40 utilizes for the purpose of identifying IC 12 and a component, thatwill eventually contain the IC 12 identified by the user. Initially,however, the component containing the IC 12 presents a default IC 12,which will mostly likely change as the user 40 selects and identifies anew IC 12. The user 40 first identifies, through the ICIT 26,information related to the IC 12 including the electronic and/orcommunications channel(s) location(s) of the IC 12. Upon the user'sidentification of the IC 12 the ACS 10 manages the delivery to theuser's ID 20 of the IC 12. Consequently, both the ICIT 26 and the IC 12exist concurrently within the user's ID 20.

[0073] Locating Information Content

[0074] There are numerous sources that a user 40 may utilize for thepurpose of locating the IC 12. These sources include, but are notlimited to: a file location(s) that is (are) directly associated withthe ACS 10 such as files stored by the user 40 or others on data storagedevices 12 c associated 46 with the AC S 10 or its related programs andapplications; a file location(s) that is (are) outside the location(s)of the ACS 10 such as, but not exclusively, those located on Local AreaNetworks, Internet, Intranets, and/or Extranets 12 d; communication orfrequency location(s) 12 b, such as, but not exclusively, radio,television, cellular or other analog or digital communications that areeither delivered directly over-air or by wireless means or throughwireline hookup; or information provided via satellite communications 12a either delivered directly over-air or by wireless means or throughwireline hookup.

[0075] Creation of Stored Assessment Event and Stored Assessment

[0076] After the user 40 has identified the IC 12, the ACS 10 offers theoption to save the information contained within the ICIT 26, whichincludes the electronic and/or communications channel(s) location(s) ofthe IC 12. Upon the user's decision to save, the ACS 10 saves theinformation as a SAE 14. This process includes the ACS 10 assigning of aunique identifier for the SAE 14, which is associated with the user 40.All information related to the save procedure are saved within a storagearea 33 associated 47 with the ACS 10.

[0077] Once the user 40 has completed the above identification relatedto the IC 12, the user 40 can move to creating the actual assessment. Todo this the ACS 10 manages delivery to the user's ID 20 of certaincomponents including a component containing the ADT 15 and a componentcontaining the IC 12 that was previously identified within SAE 14. Ifthe IC 12 component is already present from the previous process ofidentifying the IC 12, then that component may remain unchanged. The ACS10 may use the electronic and/or communications channel(s) location ofthe IC 12, contained within the SAF 14, which is stored within storagedevice 33, to locate the IC 12. Consequently, both the ADT 15 and the IC12 exist concurrently within the user's ID 20.

[0078] Delivery of Information Content

[0079] The path of delivery of the IC 12 to the user's ID 20 may occurin a number of ways, such as the following:

[0080] 1. having the IC 12 delivered from an electronic and/orcommunications channel(s) location(s) stored by the user 40 or others ona data storage device(s) 12 c associated 46 with the ACS 10 or itsrelated programs and applications, through a path that begins from thestorage device(s) 12 c through the association 46 between the ACS 10 andthe storage device 12 c, through the ACS 10 located in the technologyprocessor 32, through a connections 27 linking the technology processor32 containing the ACS 10 to the electronic and/or communicationschannel(s) 30, and then to the user's ID 20 through a connections 24linking the ID 20 to the electronic and/or communications channel(s) 30;

[0081] 2. having the IC 12 delivered from an electronic and/orcommunications channel(s) locations 12 d that include, but are notlimited to those located on Local Area Networks, Internet, Intranets,and/or Extranets, through a path 36 to 44 linking the locations 12 d ofthe IC 12 to the electronic and/or communications channel(s) 30, andthen to the user's ID 20 through a connections 24 linking the ID 20 tothe electronic and/or communications channel(s) 30;

[0082] 3. having the IC 12 delivered from an electronic and/orcommunications channel(s) locations 12 d that include, but are notlimited to those located on Local Area Networks, Internet, Intranets,and/or Extranets, through a path 36 to 37 connecting the locations ofthe IC 12 to the ACS 10, then through a connection(s) 27 linking thetechnology processor 32 containing the ACS 10 to the electronic and/orcommunications channel(s) 30, and then to the user's ID 20 through aconnection(s) 24 linking the ID 20 to the electronic and/orcommunications channel(s) 30;

[0083] 4. having the IC 12 delivered from other electronic and/orcommunications channel(s) location(s) 12 a and 12 b such as, though notexclusively, satellite, broadcasting and wireless connections, through apath 38 to 39 connecting the location(s) of the IC 12 to the ACS 10,then through a connection(s) 27 linking the technology processor 32contain the ACS 10 to the electronic and/or communications channel(s)30, and then to the user's ID 20 through a connection(s) 24 linking theID 20 to the electronic and/or communications channel(s) 30; or

[0084] 5. having the IC 12 delivered from other electronic and/orcommunications channel(s) location(s) 12 a and 12 b such as, though notexclusively, satellite, broadcasting and wireless connections, through apath 38 to 41 linking the electronic and/or communications channel(s)location(s) of the IC 12 to the electronic and/or communicationschannel(s) 30, and then to the user's ID 20 through a connection(s) 24linking the ID 20 to the electronic and/or communications channel(s) 30.

[0085] Delivery of Assessment Development Tools

[0086] The ACS 10, which resides within an information technologyprocessor 32, may also manage delivery of the ADT 15. A user 40 createsand maintains assessments within the ADT 15 component. The path ofdelivery of the ADT 15 managed by the ACS 10 has the ADT 15 deliveredthrough a connection 27 linking the technology processor 32 containingthe ACS 10 to the electronic and/or communications channel(s) 30, andthen to the user's ID 20 through a connection(s) 24 linking the ID 20 tothe electronic and/or communications channel(s) 30.

[0087] Once an assessment has been created within the ADT 15, the user40 may choose to save the information. Upon the user's decision to save,the ACS 10 saves the information as a SA 17. Each SA 17 is assigned aunique identifier by the ACS 10 and is stored by the ACS 10 in a storagearea 34 that is associated 42 with the ACS 10. Upon designation of a SA17, the ACS 10 associates 25 the SA 17 with the SAE 14 for the selectedIC 12 that appears within the ID 20.

[0088] Path of User Activity

[0089] Activity associated with identifying information content andcreating assessments that a user 40 inputs and submits travels a pathfrom the ID 20 through a connection(s) 24 between the ID 20 and theelectronic and/or communication channel(s) 30, then through a connection27 linking the electronic and/or communications channel(s) 30 withtechnology processor 32 containing the ACS 10. The ACS 10 then directsthe users activity to the appropriate areas controlled by the AC S 10.

[0090] Information Related to User's Interface Device

[0091]FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B provide more detail on the ACS′ management ofinformation delivery to the user's interface device. The user's ID 20can be thought of as all connected, interrelated or otherwise associatedequipment or devices that allow a user to experience and/or interactwith available, authorized and/or otherwise accessible resourcesavailable through an electronic and/or communications channel(s).

[0092] In FIG. 3A the ID 20 is further distinguished by two components.Now relating information in FIG. 2 with the information in FIG. 3A, theACS 10 may manage delivery to the user's ID 20, within component 20 a,of the IC 12, which the ACS 10 locates based on information related tothe electronic and/or communications channel(s) location(s) of the IC 12identified by the user. The IC 12 is mostly likely, though notexclusively, either directly or indirectly the subject or purpose forwhich the said information assessment is being created or maintained.

[0093] Now relating information in FIG. 2 with the information in FIG.3A, the ACS 10 also may manage delivery to the user's ID 20, withincomponent 20 b the tools for identifying the information related to theIC 12, namely the ICIT 26. As shown in FIG. 3A the ICIT 26 may alsoinclude the SAE 14 if the user is accessing a previously created SAE 14,for the purpose of making modifications or adjustments.

[0094]FIG. 3B shows that the ACS 10 also may manage delivery to theuser's ID 20, within component 20 b, the tools needed to create andmaintain assessments, namely the ADT 15. The ADT 15 allows for, thoughis not limited to: 1) a plurality of assessment types (e.g., multiplechoice, true-false, essay, personal evaluations, etc.); 2) a pluralityof items within each assessment type (e.g., one or more multiple choicequestions, one or more short answer or comment statements, etc.); and 3)the development of assessments in a plurality of electronic orcommunications formats such as, though not exclusively, text, graphics,animation, video, audio, over-the-air transmission such as televisionand radio, tactile materials, olfactory materials, and other informationformats. As shown in FIG. 3B the ADT 15 may also include the SA 17 ifthe user is accessing a previously created SA 17, for the purpose ofmaking modifications or adjustments.

[0095] Potential other Items Within ADT and ICIT

[0096] In addition to containing tools for identifying informationrelated to the IC 12, the ICIT 26 may also contain additionalinformation and tools, such as but not limited to: 1) tools orinformation to help the user locate, select or otherwise provideassistance with choosing the IC 12; 2) feedback, ratings, counts and/ordiscussion options that allow users to gain insight or opinion fromother users regarding information content; 3) translation tools fortranslating IC 12 for the user or for those being assessed; 4)summarization tools allowing for automatic summarization orcategorization of material within the selected IC 12; 5) summary orindexing tools that offer the user information regarding informationcontent that have been previously selected by the user; and 6) in thecase where the ICIT 26 contains the SAE 14 there may exist informationrelated to the SAE 14's association with a SA 17 such as number ofquestions and question types.

[0097] In addition to containing tools for creating and maintainingassessments, the ADT 15 may also contain additional information andtools, such as but not limited to: 1) materials to allow the user toprovide instructions or descriptions to assist those being assessed; 2)details or other information regarding the selected IC 12 to which theassessment is related including its electronic and/or communicationschannel(s) locations); 3) reference materials such as dictionary,encyclopedia or other information items; 4) feedback on previouslycreated assessment information such as information showing results fromthose who have previously taken the assessment; 5) developmentassistance materials such as spell checking and grammar checking, andlinks to other sources of information; and 6) summary or indexing toolsthat offer the user information regarding assessments that have beenpreviously created by the user.

[0098] Explanation of Continuous Unified Perceptual Experience

[0099] Again relating to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, both the IC 12, containedin component 20 a, and the ADT 15 and ICIT 26, contained in component 20b, whose delivery to the ID 20 may be managed by the ACS 10, may bepresented within the user's ID 20 in a form that produces asubstantially continuous unified perceptual experience for the user.

[0100] A substantially continuous unified perceptual experience existswhen one or more sensory inputs or stimuli are present, eitherconcurrently or in a sequential order, so that the user's overallexperience or awareness registers as a single or series of associatedand undisturbed events. For the purpose of this invention such anexperience takes place within the experience obtained when interacting,either passively or actively, with certain interface devices connectedto an electronic and/or communications channel(s). The main principlebehind the substantially continuous unified perceptual experience isthat the person who is registering the experience when interacting withthe interface device is perceiving that the stimuli they areexperiencing are linked or unified in manner that suggests to the personthat the stimuli are associated with a specific item or applicationand/or are emanating from a single source. A disruption to the link thatestablishes the perceived connection of stimuli results in a disruptionto the person's perceptual experience. A distinction is not made basedon length of time of exposure to the stimuli but on commoncharacteristics that link the stimuli and that these links are relevantwithin the context of the person's current expectations of theperceptual experience.

[0101] For the purpose of this invention, examples may include, but arenot limited to: information provided through a single computerapplication such as a single web browser; programming provided through asingle analog or digital wireline broadcast source such as cable sourcesand programming provided through a single analog or digital wirelessbroadcast source such over-the air television and radio, satellite, andother wireless applications. In each of these examples someone whosecurrent perceptual experience is focused on the information (i.e.,stimuli) provided by these sources recognizes that these are linked aslong as the delivery of the stimuli remains undisturbed within theuser's expectations of the perceptual experience.

[0102] This can be seen in FIG. 3C, which provides a conceptualrepresentation of potential items that may be included within a user'scontinuous unified perceptual experience of the preferred embodiment.The overall experience can be divided into two distinct, thoughinterrelated 53, elements. First, there exists sensory stimuli 54 thatthe user 40 derives from simply being within the presence of theinterface device. The sensory stimuli that impact the user's sensesinclude the presence of one or more stimuli dealing with sight 54 a,sound 54 b, tactical/motion 54 c, smell/olfactory 54 d, and/or taste 54e. Such items may include, but are not limited to: video screens such ascomputer and television screens; video projection machines; audio orsound apparatus; scent emitters; items producing vibration or motion;and taste providers.

[0103] Second, there exists input items 55 that connect the user 40 tothe interface device in a way that permits the user 40 to interact withthe sensory stimuli information that is being presented. Suchinteractive items associated with the ID 20 generally fall, though notexclusively, into items that allow for user 40 interactivity such asthose dealing with sight 55 a, speech 55 b, touch/motion 55 c andbiometrics 55 d. Such items may include, but are not limited to:computer keyboards; other computer input items such as a mouse, scanningdevices, input pads or sticks; pupil or eye trackers; remote controldevices; and touch sensors.

[0104] Performing Activity Within the Interface Device

[0105] Now referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3C, the ACS 10 may managedelivery to the user's ID 20 of multiple components, with theillustrated embodiment encompassing a component 20 a, in which the IC 12is contained, and a component 20 b, in which the ICIT 26 or ADT 15 arecontained. To the user 40 the components exist within a continuousunified perceptual experience in the ID 20 in which sensory stimuli 54along with input items 55 are present either concurrently or in relevantsequence order so that the user's overall experience registers as asingle or unified event. However, functionally the components areseparate, since these are drawn from separate electronic and/orcommunications channel(s) location(s), namely the IC 12 is drawn fromits location(s) while the ICIT 26, which may contain the SAE 14 or theADT 15, which may contain the SA 17, are drawn from their location(s).The “separate-but-one” experience enables the user 40 to performactivity within one component, using one or more input or interactivemechanisms 55 associated with the ID 20. In this way performing activitywithin one component will not materially affect the perceptualexperience the user 40 is deriving from the component in which activityis not being performed.

[0106] For example, one form for creating assessments is throughelectronic and/or communications channel(s) that utilize protocolsassociated with the World Wide web. In this environment, a single webbrowser may serve as the single application that is providing thecontinuous unified perceptual experience, including potentially multiplesensory stimuli, within the user's ID 20. As shown in FIG. 4A, a singleweb browser 56 may be used to allow for the IC 12 to appear in oneportion of the browser while the ICIT 26 or the ADT 15 appear in anotherportion of the browser. The upper portion 57 of the web browser consistsof component 20 a, which contains the IC 12, while in the lower portion61 of the web browser consists of component 20 b, which contains theICIT 26 or the ADT 15.

[0107] The information within components 20 a and 20 b may be drawn fromseparate electronic and/or communications channel(s) locations) and eachis presented in a separate frame but appear together within a single webbrowser 56. With this arrangement the user can separately manipulate onecomponent while the other component remains undisturbed. Using inputitems associated with the ID 20, the user can move between eithercomponent without altering the experience the user obtains from theother component. The act of moving between components 20 a and 20 b doesnot disturb the contents of the components unless the user directlymanipulates them. The act of performing activity within one componentlikewise does not alter the user's continuous unified perceptualexperience since user interaction is an expectation that exists with theexperience (e.g., mouse clicks) associated with using web browsers. Theact of moving between components does not affect the percentage ofperceptual experience occupied by a component unless the userintentionally alters the percentage using the input mechanism. However,adjusting the percentage of perceptual experience occupied by eachcomponent does not alter the continuous unified perceptual experiencesince the activity involved in doing so can be considered within theboundaries of the expectations of interacting with the web browser 56.

[0108] User Activity Within Web Browser

[0109]FIG. 4B shows a before representation and FIG. 4C shows an afterrepresentation of a single web browser 56 which contains two components20 a and 20 b consisting of information drawn from separate electronicand/or communications channel(s) location(s). Both FIG. 4B and FIG. 4Cshow the same component 20 a containing the IC 12 and the same component20 b containing either the ICIT 26 or the ADT 15. In the afterrepresentation shown in FIG. 4C, the user's activity has reduced thespace occupied by the ICIT 26 or the ADT 15 in component 20 b, which hasresulted in a somewhat larger area being occupied by the IC 12 incomponent 20 a compared to the before representation in FIG. 4B.However, by making this adjustment, the user has consciously permittedthe sensory experience to be altered as part of the interaction process.The single browser 56 containing the multiple components is stilldisplayed and while components 20 a and 20 b within the browser 56 inFIG. 4C have been adjusted in terms of the percentage of screen spaceeach represents, the single web browser 56 remains within the user'scontinuous unified perceptual experience.

[0110] The representations using web browsers shown in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4Band FIG. 4C, while useful for effectively understanding the invention,is not limited to this embodiment since other methods may also beemployed that do not use a web browser page for delivering thecontinuous unified perceptual experience.

[0111] Other Arrangement of Components

[0112] It should be noted that in FIG. 3A the arrangement of componentscontrolled by the ACS 10 and provided within the user's ID 20 representonly one of a plurality of arrangements of components, which arepotentially available since there are numerous interface device optionsthat can handle a plurality of different stimuli types and offer aplurality of input devices. In all cases the main objective of the ACS10, in terms of delivery, is to produce a continuous unified perceptualexperience within the user's ID 20. For instance, while FIG. 3A shows ahorizontal arrangement with the IC 12 appearing in an upper componentwhile the ICIT 26 or ADT 15 appears in a lower component it isconceivable that components could be presented vertically with, forexample, the ICIT 26 or ADT 15 on the left side of a visual ID 20, suchas a computer screen or television, and the IC 12 is on the right side.However, those of ordinary skill in the art will certainly appreciatethat additional arrangements are possible, including those that involveonly partial or no visual stimuli. For instance, audio methods may beused to present the IC 12, with the audio being produced within the ID20 through an audio producing device such as audio speakers. In thisembodiment the ADT 15 may appear on a computer screen and thus allowsthe user to create or maintain an assessment while listening to the IC12. Or to extend this example further, the user could develop theassessment using voice recognition technology in which case neither theIC 12 nor the ADT 15 may involve visual stimuli.

[0113] Assessment Creation

[0114]FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram representing the initial stages in thedevelopment of assessments. The diagram shows several steps that reflectthe flow of information that occurs in order to create or modifyassessment information. Now relating information in FIG. 2 with theinformation in FIG. 5, to gain access to the ACS 10 the user 40 mustenter information (70) (e.g., username, password, other personalidentification) that associates the user 40 with an internal uniqueidentifier. The unique identifier allows the ACS 10 to associate furtheruser 40 action to the user 40 via their unique identifier.

[0115] The ACS 10 may operate as a stand-alone item that is accesseddirectly or may reside within a more complex offering requiring the user40 to maneuver to the section containing the AC S 10. In eithersituation the user 40 must locate (72) the ACS 10. Once the user 40 hascompleted all tasks needed to gain access, the ACS 10 may present theuser 40 with certain options (75) which may include creating newassessment information (78) or modifying existing assessment information(77).

[0116] To begin the process of developing a new assessment (78), theuser 40 must first identify (80) information content IC 12, which ismost likely the information that is either directly or indirectly thesubject or purpose for creating an assessment. For example, the IC 12may be material within a company's technical manual, which is availablein electronic form, and the assessment is being developed based onmaterial in the manual. In the preferred embodiment, the identification(80) of the IC 12 includes, among other information, its electronicand/or communications channel(s) location(s) which may include, but isnot limited to: an electronic storage file location(s); computer networkaddress; over-the-air frequency or other electronic and/orcommunications channel(s) location(s). The IC 12 may be any electronicand/or communications format that can be accessed, transferred,transmitted, read and/or otherwise made available using electronicand/or communications channel(s) methods or protocols and that produceone or more sensory stimuli including but not limited to text, graphics,audio, video, animation, olfactory and/or tactile/motion forms.

[0117] The ACS 10 instructs the user 40 to identify (80) informationrelated to the IC 12 including its electronic and/or communicationschannel(s) location(s), and then enter or input (83) this information.The entry or input of information related to the IC 12, in particular,its electronic and/or communications channel(s) location(s), can beeither self assigned via direct user 40 input using an input deviceassociated with ID 20, such as, but not limited to, entering thelocation(s) via keyboard, mouse or through speech recognition methods;or the ACS 10 may automatically track certain information related to theIC 12, in particular, its electronic and/or communications channel(s)location(s) as a user 40 investigates or searches for the IC 12.

[0118] Referring now to FIG. 3A, the ICIT 26, contained within component20 b, may allow the user to search for IC 12 directly within the ICIT26. In this way the input within the ICIT 26 of information related tothe IC 12, in particular its electronic and/or communications channel(s)location(s), would result in the ACS 10 managing the delivery of theselected IC 12 within component 20 a. In addition, the ICIT 26 may offerthe user access to a directory of IC items that were pre-selected,recommended, or previously used by the user or by other users. Aselection of one of these IC items would result in the ACS 10 managingthe delivery of the selected IC 12 within component 20 a.

[0119] When the user has selected an IC 12, the ACS 10 allows the userto save the information related to the IC 12, including its electronicand/or communications channel(s) location(s) via a user inputinstruction using the ID 20 such as, but not limited to, a mouse click,pressing a certain button on a keyboard or speech recognition.

[0120] Referring again to FIG. 5 and FIG. 2, when the user 40 hasidentified and inputted information related to the IC 12, the ACS 10provides the user 40 with the option (85) to save the information forthe purpose of possible use as part of the assessment creation process.If the user 40 wishes to save the information related to the IC 12contained within the ICIT 26, the ACS 10 saves (86) the information as astored assessment event, SAE 14 in FIG. 2, and stores all informationwithin an electronic storage area 33, shown in FIG. 2, which isassociated 47 to the ACS 10. The step of saving as a stored assessmentevent (86) also results in the saved information being associated withthe user 40.

[0121] Once the IC 12 has been identified, inputted and stored, the ACS10 offers the user 40 the option (90) to begin to develop the actualassessment. If the user 40 chooses (93) to start this process the ACS 10presents the user 40 with the tools needed to develop the assessment,namely the ADT 15. This process is further explained in FIG. 6. The usermay also choose (91) not to develop the actual assessment at this pointbut may choose to modify (92) the current SAE 14. This process isfurther explained in FIG. 8. Finally the user may choose (95) not todevelop the actual assessment nor modify the current SAE 14 in whichcase the user may choose to undertake other activity offered by the AC S10 or can exit the entire assessment process (88).

[0122] If the user 40 chooses at (85) not to save the informationrelated to the IC 12 contained within the ICIT 26, the user 40 mayeither choose (87) to start the process over by identifying another IC12 item or may choose to undertake other activity offered by the ACS 10or can exit the entire assessment process (88).

[0123]FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram representing the steps carried out inthe process of creating a new assessment once a stored assessment eventhas been designated and the assessment development process is permitted(98). Now relating FIG. 2 with FIG. 6, to create the assessment the ACS10 may determine (99) whether the IC 12 is currently present (104)within the user's ID 40. This will be the case, as shown in FIG. 5 at(93), if the user 40 has elected to begin the actual assessmentdevelopment process when the IC 12 was identified and saved in the ICIT26 and a SAE 17 was designated. Consequently, the IC 12 will beavailable 105 to the user 40 through their ID 20.

[0124] In instances where the IC 12 is not present, the ACS 12 mustaccesses (101) from that part of electronic storage area 33 associated47 to the ACS 10 that is assigned to the user 40, the SAE 14, whichincludes the electronic and/or communications channel(s) location(s) ofthe IC 12. Next the ACS 10 manages delivery (103) of the IC 12 to theuser's ID 20. Once the IC 12 is either partially or fully retrieved, itis made available (105) to the user 40 through their ID 20 in a formthat is managed by the ACS 10.

[0125] Concurrently, while the ACS 10 is carrying out the functionsrelated to the IC 12 described above, it may also be accessing (100) theelectronic tools used for developing the assessment, namely the ADT 15.Next the ACS 10 manages delivery 102 of the ADT 15 to the user's ID 20.The ADT 15 is made available (103) to the user 40 through their ID 20 ina form that is managed by the ACS 10. For the invention, the form inwhich the IC 12 and the ADT 15 are presented to the user's ID 20, may beone that produces, for the user 40, the previously discussedsubstantially continuous unified perceptual experience within the ID 20.

[0126] With the IC 12 and the ADT 15 now available through the user's ID20 the user 40 may begin to develop the assessment (106). As previouslydiscussed, the ADT 15 allows for the creation of a plurality ofassessment types, a plurality of items within each assessment type and aplurality of format options. Thus, what is referred to as an assessmentmay, in fact, consist of many individual assessment items (e.g., manydifferent questions). However, as will be shown shortly creating anassessment may also occur even though no assessment items have beencreated.

[0127] At any point during the assessment creation process the ACS 10,through the ADT 15, offers the user 40 the option 108 to save theassessment as a SA 17. If the user 40 chooses to save the assessment,the ACS 10 associates (110) the SA 17 with SAE 14 from which the ACS 10drew the electronic and/or communications channel(s) location(s) of theIC 12. Referring to FIG. 2, this association is illustrated as 25.

[0128] As noted, the ACS 10 through the ADT 15 allows for assessments tobe saved at anytime during the assessment creation process even if theuser 40 has yet to create an assessment item. Thus, it is possible thatan association 25 between a SA 17 and the SAE 14 may occur even thoughthe user 40 does not actually create any assessment items. The processof saving an assessment (110), whether assessment items are created ornot, is enough to register an association 25 in FIG. 2 between the SAE14 and the SA 17. In effect, by doing this the user 40 has created anassessment that contains no assessment items (e.g., no questions) andthe step of developing the assessment (106) essentially leads to theuser 40 not actually creating any assessment items.

[0129] Using the Same IC for other Assessments

[0130] Looking at FIG. 2, the association 25 made by the ACS 10 betweenthe SA 17 and the SAE 14 from which the ACS 10 drew the electronicand/or communications channel(s) locations) of the IC 12, is itselfunique. That is, when an assessment is created and saved it isassociated 25 with the IC 12, through the SAE 14. This association 25 isuniquely identified.

[0131] However, the ACS 10 allows for flexibility in the use of the IC12 and SA 17 for the purpose of creating other assessments. Forinstance, the association 25 between an IC 12, through the SAE 14, and aSA 17 does not prevent the IC 12 from being associated with anotherassessment (e.g., same IC 12 but different questions). That is, the user40 could follow the same process described in this invention and utilizethe same IC 12 to create a different assessment. By doing so the ACS 10will designate a new SAE 14, a new SA 17 and a new association 25. Thuswhile a user 40 may have used the same IC 12 for two or moreassessments, each SAE 14 containing the information related to the IC 12are uniquely identified. Consequently, a user 40 could conceivably usethe same IC 12 to develop multiple assessments.

[0132] Using the Same SA or SA Items in other Assessments

[0133] In addition, a SA 17 can be associated with a different IC 12(e.g., same questions used for different IC 12). While the ACS 10establishes a unique association 25 between a SAE 14 and a SA 17, itdoes not limit the use of SA 17 to only the associated SAE 14 for whichit was originally developed. Thus a user 40 can utilize a previouslydevelop SA 17 (which may contain multiple assessment items) and have theACS 10 associate 25 it with a different SAE 14. By doing so the ACS 10would designate a new SAE 14, a new SA 17 and a new association 25. Thuswhile the user 40 may have used the same SA 17 for two or moreassessments, each SA 17 is uniquely identified. Consequently, a user 40could conceivably use the same SA 17 to develop multiple assessments.

[0134] Also, individual assessment items (e.g., individual questionswithin an assessment) created for a particular assessment are notlimited to use only with that SA 17. If the ACS 10 permits the user 40can selectively choose individual assessment items from one or more SA17 for the purpose of being used to create a new assessment or to add toa previously developed SA 17. Also, if the ACS 10 permits, some or allassessment items from some or all SA 17 can be included or be madeavailable within a pool of assessment items from which the user 40 canchoose for the purpose of creating new assessments or for adding to apreviously created assessments). In this manner assessment items can beat once associated with one (or more) SAE 14 and also available asseparate unassociated assessment items. Thus the ACS 10 allows for thecreation of a plurality of unique SAE 14 that may contain the sameassessment items.

[0135] Once again referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, once the user 40 savesthe assessment (108), the user 40 can choose from several options (111)with the current assessment. First, the current assessment can beimmediately modified (113). Alternatively the user 40 may choose to stop(116) the process at which point the ACS 10 will allow the user 40 tocontinue with other assessment activity or exit the entire assessmentcreation process (112).

[0136] If the user's choice for the save assessment option (108) is notto save, the user 40 may choose to start the process over (109) by beingpresented (105) with both the IC 12 and the ADT 15 within the user's ID20. Alternatively, if the user 40 chooses not to save the assessment theuser 40 may choose to continue with other assessment development or exitthe entire assessment creation process (112).

[0137] Modifying Assessments

[0138]FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram representing the steps carried out inthe process of modifying a previously stored assessment. Modificationcan take place on either a currently available assessment (121) or on apreviously stored assessment (122).

[0139] Now referring to FIG. 5, in the case where a previously storedassessment is not currently available, the user may maneuver to thatpart of the ACS 10, which contains the option (75) that includesmodifying existing information (77).

[0140] Now referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 7, the ACS 10 allows the user 40to make modifications to the SA 17 using the ADT 15. The modificationmay include changes, additions and/or deletion to a selected SA 17 suchas, but not limited to, changing response options, adding new items, andaltering sequence of items.

[0141] Upon choosing the option to modify (122) a previous SA 17, theuser 40 may then choose (123) the assessment that is to be modified.Once the user 40 has selected the assessment to be modified the ACS 10locates (124) the SAE 14 from that part of electronic storage area 33associated 47 with the ACS 10 that is assigned to the user 40 and thatis associated 25 with the selected SA 17. Next the ACS 10 managesdelivery (125) of the IC 12, which is identified within the SAE 14, tothe user's ID 20. Once the IC 12 is either partially or fully retrieved,it is made available (129) to the user 40 through their ID 20 in a formthat is managed by the ACS 10.

[0142] Concurrently, while the ACS 10 is carrying out the functionsrelated to managing the delivery of the IC 12 described above, it mayalso be accessing (127) the electronic tools used for developing theassessment, namely the ADT 15. In addition to accessing the ADT 15, theACS 10 also may access the SA 17 from the storage area 34 associated 42with the ACS 10 that is assigned to the user 40 and then manage delivery(128) of the ADT 15, which contains the SA 17, to the user's ID 20. TheADT 15 and its contents may be made available (129) to the user 40through the ID 20 in a form that is managed by the ACS 10. For thepresent invention the form in which the IC 12 and the ADT 15 arepresented to the user's ID 20, is one that produces, for the user 40,the previously discussed substantially continuous unified perceptualexperience within the ID 20.

[0143] With the IC 12 and the ADT 15, which contains the SA 17, nowavailable through the user's ID 20, the user 40 may begin to makemodifications 130 to the assessment.

[0144] When the user 40 has finished modifications to the assessment theACS 10, through ADT 15, may offer the user 40 the option (132) to savethe modifications. If the user 40 chooses to save the modifications, theACS 10 may offer a number of options (135) for saving the modifications.First, the modifications could replace certain information in thecurrent assessment (141) in which case the modifications are saved inplace of the existing information (143). By doing so, all otheridentifiers and associations, such as the unique identifiers assignedwhen the SA 17 was originally created, remain unchanged.

[0145] As a second example, the user 40 may wish to save themodifications as a new assessment (136) rather than replacing anexisting SA 17. In this case the information within the SA 17 selectedfor modification remains unchanged. If the user 40 chooses to save as anew assessment then the ACS 10 saves (138) the information as a new SA17 and associates this with the user 40. In this way, the modificationprocess can, in effect, be used as a new assessment creation process.For example, a teacher may wish to create two or more assessments (e.g.,sets of questions) to be used for the same IC 12, that was previouslyidentified and associated, 25 in FIG. 2, with the SA 17 that was chosenfor modification. Upon choosing (136) to save the modification of the SA17 as a new SA 17 and having this associated with the user (138), theteacher may be presented with a number of options (140) concerning theIC 12. First, the user 40 could choose (145) to use the existing IC 12,contained within the SAF 14 that is associated with the SA 17 that waschosen for modification. In doing so, the ACS 10 may create (149) a newSAE 14 and associates, 25 in FIG. 2, the new SA 17 with the newlydesignated SAE 14 and with the user 40. In this case, the user 40 willnow have two unique SA 17 each uniquely associated, 25 in FIG. 2, with auniquely identified SAE 14. However each SAE 14 will contain the same IC12. As a second example, the user 40 may choose (144) not to use theexisting IC 12 in which case the ACS 10 will allow the user 40 toidentify new IC 12 through a process of modifying the stored assessmentevent (147) that is further explained in FIG. 8. It should be noted thatthe until the user 40 has identified a new IC 12 and created a new SAE14 within the modification process shown in FIG. 8, the ACS 10 maydesignate a SAE 14 that contains default information including defaultinformation related to an IC 12 and associate this SAE 14 that containsdefault information with the newly created SA 17.

[0146] If the user 40 selects the option (136) to save as a newassessment then all information related to the original storedassessment event that was being modified is unchanged.

[0147] If a user's choice for the save modifications option (132) is notto save, the user 40 may return (145) to the beginning of themodification process (129) or if the user 40 wishes to not continue withthe modifications and not save what has been done (134), the ACS 10 willallow the user 40 to continue with other assessment activities or exitthe entire assessment creation process (150).

[0148]FIG. 6 indicates that a user may modify (113) an assessment thatis currently being developed and that has been saved. As shown in FIG. 7modifications to a current assessment (121) may result in the ACS 10allowing the user to move directly to the modification process 130. Oncemodification is permitted the process for modifications of the currentlyavailable assessment is the same as discussed above for assessments thatwere previously created but are not currently available.

[0149]FIG. 8 shows a flow diagram representing steps that may be carriedout in the process of modifying a stored assessment event. Modificationcan take place on either a currently available assessment event 152 oron a previously developed but not currently available assessment event153.

[0150] Now referring to FIG. 5, in the case where a stored assessmentevent is not currently available, the user must maneuver to that part ofthe ACS 10, which contains the options (75) that include modifyingexisting information (77).

[0151] Now referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 8, the ACS 10 allows the user 40to make modifications to a SAE 14 using the ICIT 26. The modificationmay include changes, additions or deletion to information related to theIC 12 contained in the SAE 14 such as, but not limited to, alteringdescriptive information related to the existing IC 12 or selecting adifferent IC 12 item by entering new information related to the IC 12including its electronic and/or communications channel(s) location(s).

[0152] Upon choosing the option to modify (153) a previous SAE 14, theuser 40 may then choose (154) the SAE 14 that is to be modified. Oncethe user 40 has selected the SAE 14 to be modified the ACS 10 locates(155) the SAE 14 from that part of electronic storage area 33 associated47 with the ACS 10 that is assigned to the user 40. Next the ACS 10 maymanage delivery (156) of the IC 12 that is identified within theselected SAE 14, to the user's ID 20. Once the IC 12 is either partiallyor fully retrieved, it is made available (160) to the user 40 throughtheir ID 20 in a form that is managed by the ACS 10.

[0153] Concurrently while the AC S 10 is carrying out the functionsrelated to managing the delivery of the IC 12 described above, it isalso accessing (158) the electronic tools used for identifying the IC 12and creating the SAE 14, namely the ICIT 26. In addition to accessingthe ICIT 26, the ACS 10 may also access the information within theselected SAE 14 from the storage area 33 associated 47 with the ACS 10that is assigned to the user 40 and then manage delivery (159) of theICIT 26, which contains the SAE 14, to the user's ID 20. The ICIT 26 andits contents may be made available (160) to the user 40 through the ID20 in a form that is managed by the ACS 10. For the present invention,the form in which the IC 12 and the ICIT 26 are presented to the user'sID 40, may be one that produces, for the user 40, the previouslydiscussed substantially continuous unified perceptual experience withinthe ID 20.

[0154] With the IC 12 and the ICIT 26, which contains the SAE 14, nowavailable through the user's ID 20, the user 40 may begin to makemodifications (161) to the SAE 14.

[0155] When the user 40 has finished modifications to the SAE 14 the ACS10, through the ICIT 26, offers the user 40 the option (163) to save themodifications. If the user 40 chooses to save the modifications, the ACS10 may offer a number of options (166) for saving the modifications.First, the modifications could replace certain information in thecurrently (172) selected SAE 14 in which case the modifications aresaved in place of the existing information (174). By doing so all otheridentifiers and associations, such as the uniquely identifier assignedwhen the SAE 14 was originally created, remain unchanged.

[0156] As a second example, the user 40 may wish to save themodifications as a new stored assessment event (167) rather thanreplacing an existing SAE 14. In this case the information within theSAE 14 selected for modification remains unchanged. If the user 40chooses to save as a new assessment event then the ACS 10 saves theinformation (169) as a new SAE 14 and associates this with the user 40.In this way the modification process can, in effect, be used as a newassessment creation process. For example, a teacher may wish to reuseelements of the same assessment (e.g., one or more of the samequestions) that was previously developed and associated, 25 in FIG. 2,with the IC 12 that was chosen for modification (i.e., IC 12 associatedwith the chosen SAE 14). Upon choosing (167) to save the modification ofthe SAE 14 as a new stored assessment event the teacher would bepresented with any number of options (170) concerning the SA 17. Theuser 40 could choose (178) to use the existing assessment containedwithin the SA 17 associated with the SAE 14 that was chosen formodification. In doing so, the ACS 10 creates (180) a new SA 17 andassociates, 25 in FIG. 2, the new SAE 14 with the newly designated SA 17and with the user 40. In this case the user 40 will now have two uniqueSAE 14s each uniquely associated, 25 in FIG. 2, with a uniquelyidentified SA 17. However, if the user has made no modifications to theSA 17 then each SA 17 will contain the same information. Second, theuser 40 may choose (179) not to use the existing SA 17 in which case theACS 10 will allow the user 40 to identify new SA 17 through a process ofmodifying the stored assessment (181) that is further explained in FIG.7. It should be noted that the until the user 40 has developed a new SA17 within the modification process shown in FIG. 7, the ACS 10 willcreate a new SA 17 that contains no assessment item and associate thisSA 17 that has no assessment items with the newly designated SAE 14.

[0157] If a user's 40 choice for the save modifications option (163) isnot to save, the user 40 may return (176) to the beginning of themodification process (161) or if the user 40 wishes to not continue withthe modifications and not save what has been done (165), the ACS 10 willallow the user 40 to continue with other assessment activity or exit theentire assessment creation process (185).

[0158]FIG. 8 indicates that a user may modify (152) a stored assessmentevent that is currently available. As shown in FIG. 8 modifications to acurrent assessment (152) may result in the ACS 10 allowing the user tomove directly to the modification process (161). Once modification ispermitted, the process for modifying a currently available storedassessment event is the same as discussed above for stored assessmentsevents that were previously created but were not currently available.

[0159] Visual Representation of Assessment Development Process

[0160]FIG. 9A through FIG. 9D present a visual representation of theassessment development process as it may appear within the continuousunified perceptual experience embodied in a single web browser that issectioned into frames. The representation, while useful for effectivelyunderstanding the invention, is not limited to this embodiment sinceother methods may also be employed that do not use a web browser pagefor delivering the continuous unified perceptual experience. Therepresentation within the web browser also assumes the possible presenceof other items associated with the interface device that involve sensoryexperience and input. For instance, in this representation the user iscreating the assessment using an interface device(s) connected to anelectronic and/or communications channel(s). The user interacts with theinterface device via inputs devices that include a keyboard and acomputer mouse and in addition to visual stimuli may also receivestimuli from other sources such as via audio and motion.

[0161] This representation deals with the assessment development processafter the user has located and identified the IC 12 and is permitted todevelop an assessment using tools provided by the ADT 15. It is notintended to show the entire process for developing an assessment,rather, the intention of the representation is to isolate and describecertain aspects of the invention in order to convey basic understanding.

[0162]FIG. 9A presents a single web browser 56 in which the IC 12 isdisplayed in component 20 a, and the ADT 15 is displayed in component 20b. Both components, 20 a and 20 b, contain information drawn fromseparate electronic and/or communications channel(s) location(s). Inthis example, component 20 a containing the IC 12 represents electronicinformation drawn from one source (i.e., NASA web site) and component 20b containing the ADT 15 is drawn from the source containing the ACS 10.The ADT 15 guides the user through the assessment development process.For instance, in FIG. 9A the ADT 15 indicates how to add items to theassessment, in this case by clicking on the Add a New Question button(188) though other methods or graphic representations could be used.

[0163]FIG. 9B shows the results of the user's decision to Add a NewQuestion as the assessment control system delivers, via the ADT 15 incomponent 20 b, the set of tools needed to develop an assessment item.For instance in this representation, the tools are to be used to developtest questions, which are related to the material appearing in the IC 12contained in component 20 a.

[0164] A comparison of FIG. 9A with FIG. 9B shows that the IC 12 incomponent 20 a is the same in both FIG. 9A and 9B in which case the IC12 is not altered when the user selects to Add a New Question and theassessment control system delivers, via the ADT 15 in component 20 b,the set of tools needed to develop an assessment item. In this way theuser can, if they choose, refer to the material in the IC 12 containedin component 20 a while developing the assessment in the ADT 15 incomponent 20 b. Working in the ADT 15 in component 20 b does not affectthe user's experience with the IC 12 in component 20 a. The view of theIC 12 contained in component 20 a is not blocked or disturbed by theuser working in the ADT 15 in component 20 b.

[0165] Continuing with the representation, FIG. 9C shows that the usercan switch to the IC 12 in component 20 a using an input mechanism andcan work within this component. For example, as is shown in FIG. 9C, theuser could scroll lower in the IC 12, however, doing so is within theuser's continuous unified perceptual experience since it is part of theprocess of interacting with the web browser. Interacting with the IC 12within component 20 a does not affect the status of the experience theuser is deriving from the ADT in component 20 b, which is unaffected bythe user switching to the IC 12 in component 20 a.

[0166]FIG. 9D shows that switching again to the ADT 15 within component20 b does not affect the user's substantially continuous unifiedperceptual experience status since the experience the user is derivingfrom the IC 12 in component 20 a is unaffected by the user switching tothe ADT 15 within component 20 b and the activity performed in the ADT15 within component 20 b is part of the process of interacting with theweb browser. In this case the user has entered information within theADT 15 contained in component 20 b without affecting the IC 12 containedwithin component 20 a.

[0167] Other Embodiments

[0168] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that theforegoing has set forth the presently preferred embodiment of theinvention and an illustrative embodiment of the invention, but thatnumerous alternative embodiments are possible without departing from thenovel teachings of the invention. For example, referring to FIG. 2, inanother embodiment of the invention the information presented to theuser 40 within their ID 20 may consist of more than two separatesources. In addition to the IC 12, and the ICIT 26 or the ADT 15, theACS 10 may manage delivery of additional components that assist in theassessment creation and/or maintenance process. For instance, the IC 12,the ICIT 26 or the ADT 15 may each be divided into more than onecomponent. Thus it is conceivable that the ID 20, as shown in FIG. 3Aand FIG. 3B may consist of three or more components and the ACS 10manages delivery of each in a manner that produces the previouslydiscussed continuous unified perceptual experience.

[0169] Also, referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, an embodimentmay exist in which the tools for identifying information related toinformation content, namely the ICIT 26, may be incorporated within theADT 15. That is, both the ICIT 26 and the ADT 15 are simultaneouslycontained within the same component 20 b in FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B.

[0170] Also, referring to FIG. 2, the current preferred embodiment showsthe ACS 10 resides within equipment containing an information technologyprocessor 32 that is accessible via an electronic and/or communicationschannel(s) 30. In another embodiment, the AC S 10 and its associatedcomponents such as, but not exclusively, the ICIT 26 and the ADT 15, mayresides within equipment containing an information technology processorthat is associated with the user 40. For example, the ACS 10 may resideon the user's computer. In this case access to the ACS 10 need notrequire access over an electronic and/or communications channel(s) 30.However, while in this embodiment access to the ACS 10 does not occurover an electronic and/or communications channel(s), access to anelectronic and/or communications channel(s) may be required in order forthe ACS 10 to carry out certain functions, most notably, managing thedelivery of the IC 12. This would be the case unless all IC 12 rest onequipment or components that are associated with the equipmentcontaining the ACS 10 and that do not require the use of an electronicand/or communications channel(s) to access.

[0171] Also, referring to FIG. 3A, an embodiment may exist in which theICIT 26 is not presented in a manner consistent with a continuousunified perceptual experience. Rather the ICIT 26 may appear as aseparate component within the user's ID 20. For instance, it may appearwithin a separate web browser. In this embodiment the user may need toswitch between the different components in order to identify the IC 12.For example, a user may open a web browser to locate IC 12 and then oncelocated switch to another web browser containing the ICIT 26 where theuser can enter the information related to the IC 12 including itselectronic and/or communications channel(s) location(s).

[0172] Also, an embodiment may exist in which a user may investigate orsearch for information content within one web browser or otherapplication or means available through an interface device while the ACS 10 automatically tracks the electronic and/or communicationschannel(s) location(s) of the user's investigation or search. Thetracking would occur within the ICIT 26 contained in another web browseror other application or means available through an interface deviceincluding in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A. When the user has selectedan IC 12, the user can switch to the ICIT 26 at which point certaininformation related to the IC 12, in particular its electronic and/orcommunications channel(s) location(s), will be registered by the ACS 10within the ICIT 26. The user can then choose to enter additionalinformation related to the IC 12 within the ICIT 26 and then save theinformation at which point the ACS 10 permits the user to develop theactual assessment.

[0173] Additional Applications

[0174] Another application of the invention is to aid in the creation ofother instructional items. In one application, the methods and processesdescribed in this invention could also be used to develop materials thatprovide instruction. For instance, an instructional manual can beproduced which is designed to provide assistance to another party. Ifthe material is available via an electronic and/or communicationschannel(s) to the person developing the instructional material then themethod and process of this invention can be utilized. In thiscircumstance, the assessment development tools would be replaced byinstructional development tools, which include tools to developinstructional materials.

[0175] As with the invention involving assessment creation andmaintenance, the information content for which the user is developingthe instructional material, the instructional identification tools andthe instructional development tools would have their delivery to theuser's interface device managed by a control software system. Thedelivery to the user's interface device would be presented in a formthat produces a continuous unified perceptual experience for the user.Also, as with the present invention, the information content that theuser is using to develop the instructional material, and instructionalidentification tools and the instructional development tools would existin separate electronic and/or communications channel(s) locations.

[0176] Additionally, the invention could conceivably be utilized inother situations in which information content and developmental tools,each drawn from separate electronic and/or communications channel(s)location(s) and delivered in a manner that produces a continuous unifiedperceptual experience, offer benefits to the user. The chief benefitbeing that the developmental tools are presented in a manner that allowsthe user to utilize the tools while the information content is alsopresent. Additional applications may include, but are not limited to:note taking, critical evaluation and review, collaborative projectdevelopment and graphic design or illustration.

[0177] Conclusion, Ramification and Scope

[0178] The invention provides a method utilizing electronic and/orcommunications channel(s) for allowing a user to create and maintainassessments while in the presence of certain information content in away that provides a substantially continuous unified perceptualexperience. Such a method allows a user to create and manage assessmentswhile experiencing the information content, which most likely is eitherdirectly or indirectly the subject or purpose for creating anassessment. In the absence of such a method those creating ormaintaining assessments over electronic and/or communications channel(s)face problems as they move between information content and assessmentcreation tools. These disadvantage primarily occur due to therequirement that users make physical and/or mental adjustments ormanipulations that at one point in time brings the information contentwithin their sensory experience and another adjustment or manipulationto bring the assessment creation tools into their sensory experience.The act of bringing one of these items into the user's perceptualexperience requires that the other item depart the user's perceptualexperience either in part or in full.

[0179] For example, existing methods available to users who developassessments in this way require the user to refer to information contentin ways that include but are not limited: relying on memory, looking atprinted material, looking at video or switching between differentcomputer screens. These methods offer disadvantages that include but arenot limited to: error in memory, transcribing mistakes, data inputerrors due to requirements for physical manipulations, out-of-dateinformation, added costs, additional time and inconvenience.

[0180] The current invention addresses the disadvantages of existingmethods for creating and maintaining assessments over an electronicand/or communications channel(s) by providing both the informationcontent and the assessment creation tools within a continuous unifiedperceptual experience. Thus advantages of this invention include, butare not limited to: faster development time, less costly, lower errorrates, and increased convenience. In addition, conceivably user's may beable to develop more effective assessments since the information contentis readily available while the user is developing the assessment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method to create and maintain assessmentscomprising: receiving identifying information related to informationcontent from a user, said identifying information including one or moreselected from the group consisting of a communications channel, channellocation, and location of said information content; designating anassessment event for said identifying information associated with saiduser; managing the delivery to said user of at least a componentcontaining said information content and a component containing at leastone assessment development tool, said delivery being in a format thatproduces a substantially continuous unified perceptual experience andallows for user activity to occur in any single component of the saidcomponents; allowing said user to create and maintain said assessmentswithin said component containing said assessment development tool whilesaid information content remains within the said component containingsaid information content; designating an assessment containing at leasta portion of said identifying information and associated with said userand said assessment event; allowing for alteration, deletions or othermaintenance of said assessment event and said assessment; allowing forcreation of one or more new assessments based on said assessment or saidassessment event; and allowing for creation of one or more newassessment events based on said assessment or said assessment event. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein said electronics and/or communicationschannel comprises one or more selected from the group consisting oflocal area networks, Internet, Intranet, Extranets and local equipment,communication networks and sources including digital and analogover-the-air transmissions, wireless transmissions, cable transmissions,and satellite transmissions.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein aninterface device is used to accomplish one or more steps of said method,said interface device comprising any connected, interrelated orotherwise associated equipment or devices that allow said user toexperience and/or interact with other available, authorized and/orotherwise accessible resources within said electronic and/orcommunications channel or channels.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein anassessment control system is used to accomplish one or more steps ofsaid method, said assessment control system residing within componentscontaining an information technology processor and associated componentsthat is accessed via said electronic and/or communications channel orchannels.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein an assessment control systemis used to accomplish one or more steps of said method, said assessmentcontrol system residing within components containing an informationtechnology processor and associated components that is local to saiduser and not accessed via said electronic and/or communications channelor channels.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said information contentcomprises: information used in the process of one or more selected fromthe group consisting of educating, training, instructing, researching,informing and/or information gathering; and information available in aformat including one or more selected from the group consisting of text,graphics, video, animation, audio; over-the-air transmission such astelevision and radio; tactile materials, and olfactory materials.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said information content comprisesinformation located and accessible through said one or more electronicsand/or communications channels.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein saidinformation related to information content includes, directly orindirectly, said electronic or communications channel, channel location,and/or locations of said information content.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein said assessment event is uniquely identified so that saidassessment event is separate from any other assessment event.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said assessment development tool compriseelectronics or communications items used to create a plurality ofdifferent assessment types and a plurality of items within eachassessment type.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said assessmenttypes are developable in a format including one or more selected fromthe group consisting of text, graphics, video, animation, audio,over-the-air transmission including television and radio, tactilematerials, and olfactory materials.
 12. The method of claim 1, whereinsaid assessment development tool allows for additional informationincluding one or more selected from the group consisting of directions,information related to said information content and descriptions. 13.The method of claim 1, wherein said assessment comprises: materials usedby one party to evaluate, test, gather, measure and/or gain insight intoanother party's understanding, knowledge, comprehension, progress, skilldevelopment, memory and/or other assessment criteria; and materialssupplied by said user including one or more materials selected from thegroup consisting of those developed by other users, supplied but notdeveloped by said other users, and those referenced or linked by saidother users.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein said assessmentcomprises materials supplied by said user that are accessible anddeliverable via said one or more electronics and/or communicationschannel or channels.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein said assessmentis uniquely identified so that said assessment is separate from anyother assessment.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein each componentwithin said plurality of components contains information drawn from oneor more separate electronic and/or communications channels, channellocations, or locations.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein saiddelivery to said user of said components further includes a componentcontaining at least one information content identification tool.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, wherein said format of said components delivered tosaid user produces said substantially continuous unified perceptualexperience and allows for user activity to occur in any single componentof the said components.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein saidcomponents exist concurrently within a user interface device.
 20. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said delivery is to a user interface deviceof multiple components that occurs with each of said components beingdelivered via the same said electronics and/or communications channel orchannels or with different components being delivered via different saidelectronics and/or communications channel or channels.
 21. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said substantially continuous unified perceptualexperience comprises all sensory stimuli or outputs that are presentwithin a user interface device, either concurrently or in logical order,and producing a single or series of associated and undisturbed events.22. The method of claim 1, wherein said user is allowed to take actionin any single component while all other components remain substantiallyundisturbed.
 23. The method of claim 1, wherein said user is allowed totake action in any single component comprises while intentionallyintending to alter information in other components.
 24. The method ofclaim 1, wherein said alteration, deletions or other maintenance of saidassessment event and said assessment occurs within said substantiallycontinuous unified perceptual experience.
 25. An assessment controlsystem, comprising: at least one assessment development tool forcreating, adjusting, deleting and otherwise maintaining assessments; atleast one information content identification tool for identifying,adjusting, deleting and otherwise maintaining information related toinformation content including one or more selected from the groupconsisting of an electronic and/or communications channel, channellocation, and location of said information content; at least oneprocessor for: designating an assessment event containing at least aportion of said information content; managing delivery to a userinterface device of a plurality of components comprising at least acomponent containing said assessment development tools and a componentcontaining said information content; formatting said delivery to saiduser interface device in which said plurality of components within saiduser interface device exist in a manner consistent with a substantiallycontinuous unified perceptual experience and allows for activitiesperformed by said user to occur in any single component of saidplurality of components; designating an assessment associated with saiduser and said assessment event; creating a new assessment based on saidassessment or said assessment event; and creating a new assessment eventbased on said assessment or said assessment event; and at least onestorage area for retaining one or more selected from the groupconsisting of said assessment event, said assessment, and saidinformation content.
 26. The system of claim 25, wherein said electronicand/or communications channel comprise information technology networksand sources comprising one or more selected from the group consisting oflocal area networks, Internet, Intranet, Extranets and local equipment;digital and analog over-the-air transmissions, wireless transmissions,cable transmissions, and satellite transmissions.
 27. The system ofclaim 25, wherein said assessment control system resides withincomponents containing an information technology processor and associatedcomponents.
 28. The system of claim 27, wherein said componentscontaining an information technology processor and associated componentsare accessed via one or more electronic and/or communications channel.29. The system of claim 27, wherein said components containing aninformation technology processor and associated components are local tosaid user and not accessed via said electronic and/or communicationschannel.
 30. The system of claim 25, wherein said assessment developmenttool allows for: creating a plurality of assessment item types and aplurality of items within each said assessment item types; and theinclusion of additional information including one or more selected fromthe group consisting of directions, information related to saidinformation content and descriptions.
 31. The system of claim 30,wherein said assessment item types are developable in a format includingone or more selected from the group consisting of text, graphics, video,animation, audio; over-the-air transmission; tactile materials, andolfactory materials.
 32. The system of claim 25, wherein saidinformation content comprises: information used in the process ofeducating, training, instructing, researching, informing and/orinformation gathering; and information in a format including one or moreselected from the group consisting of text, graphics, video, animation,audio, over-the-air transmission such as television and radio, tactilematerials, and olfactory materials.
 33. The system of claim 25, whereinsaid information content comprises information located and accessiblevia said one or more electronics and/or communications channels.
 34. Thesystem of claim 25, wherein said information related to informationcontent includes either the direct or the indirect location or locationsof said information content.
 35. The system of claim 25, wherein saidinterface device comprises any connected, interrelated or otherwiseassociated equipment or devices that allow said user to experienceand/or interact with other available, authorized and/or otherwiseaccessible resources within said electronic and/or communicationchannel.
 36. The system of claim 25, wherein said delivery to a user'sinterface device of multiple components occurs via said one or moreelectronic and/or communications channel.
 37. The system of claim 25,wherein said delivery to said user interface device of said plurality ofcomponents occurs with each component being delivered via the samechannel or with different components being delivered via differentchannels.
 38. The system of claim 25, wherein said delivery to said userinterface device of said plurality of components includes at least acomponent containing said information content identification tool and acomponent containing said information content.
 39. The method of claim38, wherein said delivery to said user interface device of saidplurality of components is presented in a manner that produces saidsubstantially continuous unified perceptual experience and allows foruser activity to occur in any single component of the said plurality ofcomponents.
 40. The system of claim 25, wherein said substantiallycontinuous unified perceptual experience comprises all sensory stimulior outputs that are present within said user interface device, eitherconcurrently or in logical order, and producing a single or series ofassociated and undisturbed events.
 41. The system of claim 25, whereinsaid assessment is also made available as an unassociated assessmentwithin a pool of assessment items that can be selectively chosen to beincluded in another assessment or can be made available to other usersto build assessments.